Our bottom line
The B Credit Card has no foreign transaction fees or annual fee. This makes it a great potential travel companion, since non-sterling card fees can add up even for infrequent travellers. While you’re better served paying down your credit card balance, this card also stands out for its low interest rate.
Credit Rating Requirement: Good/Excellent
What I like
- No foreign transaction fees – The lack of a non-sterling transaction charge means that the B Credit Card could be an appealing travel card. Non-travel credit cards may charge a fee of around 3% when used to purchase goods or services in a currency other than sterling. As such, the B Credit Card could help consumers who travel abroad save significant sums of money by avoiding a foreign transaction fee.
- No annual fee – While a travel card may seem useful only for individuals who make trips abroad on a frequent basis, the card’s lack of an annual fee means that it has broad appeal. Individuals who travel internationally only once or twice per year may find the B Credit Card useful as a card that is used solely when abroad since there is no cost to using it infrequently.
- No balance transfer fee – For consumers who have existing debt on another credit card, the B Credit Card’s lack of a balance transfer fee could be appealing. Individuals who are paying a higher interest rate than that offered on the B Credit Card could save money in interest costs by transferring their debt to the new card. Although the card is a travel card, having no balance transfer fee could widen its appeal and also help to differentiate it from other cards in the travel segment.
- The B app – If you’re a fan of managing your life on the go, the money management features built into the B app may help you stay on top of where your money is going. And the B Credit Card works with the B app.
What could be improved
- Rewards – While the card could save consumers considerable sums of money through its lack of a non-sterling transaction fee, it does not offer any rewards or cashback. This means that the 60% of consumers who repay their credit card in full each month may be better off having a rewards card for their spending in the UK. This may help them to maximise their benefits when using a credit card, while still allowing them to capitalise on the B Credit Card’s travel appeal when abroad.
- Offers – A number of credit card issuers have offers to entice customers. Offers might include an introductory 0% interest rate on new purchases, for example. The B Credit Card, though, does not have offers at the time of writing.
How does the B Credit Card stack up?
For use as a travel card, the B Credit Card is very appealing. Its lack of foreign transaction fees means that consumers could save significant sums of money versus using a non-travel credit card with a non-sterling transaction fee. The B Credit Card’s lack of an annual fee helps to broaden its appeal to a variety of consumers, many of whom may only travel internationally on an infrequent basis. The card’s lack of a balance transfer fee may also mean that consumers with existing debts are able to reduce their interest payments, depending on the rate they are offered versus the rate they are currently paying.
With the card lacking rewards or cashback, there may be better opportunities elsewhere for consumers who repay their credit card in full each month; this could be through having a rewards card as a primary card for day-to-day spending in the UK, while using the B Credit Card solely for travel purposes. Having no introductory offers available also means that other cards may be more appealing, depending on an individual’s personal circumstances.
Credit score
Applications for the card can be made online, with the process of completing the online form taking around 15 minutes according to the company’s website.
As with all credit cards, the advertised interest rates are representative. This means that the advertised rate must be offered, by law, to at least 51% of successful applicants. The remaining applicants may receive a different rate. Therefore, particularly for individuals who are considering undertaking a balance transfer or who may not pay off their balance in full each month, it is worth bearing in mind that a higher interest rate may be offered.
How to apply
Applicants for the card must be aged at least 18, be resident in the UK and must not currently hold a B credit card. They must also not have applied for a B credit card or Gold Mastercard (which is a different credit card provided by the same issuer as the B credit card) in the last 60 days. Similarly, individuals who are currently bankrupt or who have had any county court judgements (CCJs) in the last three years are ineligible for the card.
When applying for the card, applicants should have information such as their monthly salary before tax, monthly outgoings, bank details and information about other credit cards available.
Is the B Credit Card right for you?
Due to its lack of foreign transaction fees, the B Credit Card could be appealing for anyone who plans to travel abroad. The savings it offers from not having a non-sterling transaction fee for purchases could be significant. Its lack of an annual fee means that it could be attractive to a broad range of consumers who travel internationally – from frequent travelers to those who travel rarely. The lack of a balance transfer fee and a low standard APR helps to differentiate the card versus its rivals and may help to lower the interest costs for individuals who have existing credit card debt elsewhere.
A lack of rewards or cashback means that consumers may be able to maximize their benefits when spending in the UK to a greater extent through using a rewards or cashback card. As a result, the B Credit Card may be worth having as a travel option rather than for everyday use in the UK. A lack of introductory offers in a competitive credit card marketplace also means that there may be more compelling opportunities available elsewhere, depending on an individual’s personal circumstances.
The Motley Fool receives compensation from some advertisers who provide products and services that may be covered by our editorial team. It’s one way we make money. But know that our editorial integrity and transparency matters most and our ratings aren’t influenced by compensation. Also, while we aim to feature some of the best products available, we do not review every product on the market. Learn more here. Any opinions or statements in this article belong to the author, and may be shared by The Motley Fool, however they were not provided or endorsed by our affiliate partners, unless expressly indicated.
The Motley Fool has recommended shares in Lloyds, Tesco and Barclays.